Largo woman describes rescue

A Largo woman is alive and well one day after driving her car into a pond, thanks to some quick-thinking Good Samaritans. It all began when 85-year old Jeanne Bereznoff drove her car into a pond along Lake Avenue Northeast in Largo around 3:30 Thursday. Two passersby, Stephenie Brooks, 28, and another man riding his bike nearby saw it happen, and were able to help her out of the car before it sank. Jeanne Bereznoff now says she has a good reason to talk to Stephenie Brooks again. “I’d love to talk to her, I want to thank her again” Brezenoff says. “I mean how can you not when somebody saves your life?” Brezenoff drove a friend’s car into a retention pond Thursday afternoon. The car’s pedals had been altered for its handicapped owner. “I pressed…an extension of her acceleration pedal, and that’s where it went wrong,” she said. Brooks did not see the car hit the water, but saw it floating. “I was actually running 20 minutes late for an appointment, and I look over and like, oh, there’s a car in there. And I was like, oh no —

there’s a person in the car.” Brooks stopped her van and asked another motorist to watch her three children. She also ordered an unidentified man on a bicycle to swim out to the car with her. “We made it about three steps in and all of a sudden the water’s up to our shoulders and big lily pads, and I said man I don’t know what’s in this water- let’s hurry.” Brezenoff also did not think the water was very deep. “I was surprised when I saw them hanging onto the car and swimming,” she said. As water filled the car, the 85-year-old driver wiggled out from behind the steering wheel and onto her back. Her 28-year-old rescuer pulled her out through the window, then they swam back to shore. Friday, Brezenoff and her 90-year-old husband celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. Brooks enjoyed the accolades of her family and co-workers. “I’m really amazed that God put me in that position to help someone because you know, I just come to work everyday and take care of my kids.”  

Originally posted here:
Largo woman describes rescue

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